I sowed hollyhock seeds -twice, and my little seedlings are getting eaten up by something. Whatever that something is will eat my seedlings' leaves. What can I do to prevent this from happening?

Hi Emily,
Welcome to this National Gardening Association forum. It will help to identify the culprit that is eating your hollyhock seedlings. Glance at them frequently during the day and go out with a flashlight to inspect them at night. Slugs and snails tend to feed at night. If it is slugs, sprinkle a bait called Sluggo around. They will eat it preferentially and die.

If it is not slugs or snails, you might consider making some kind of protective barrier to keep the leaf eaters away. Or spray your hollyhocks with a systemic insecticide. I have on occasions protected individual zinnia blooms with "hairnets" made from a fabric I found at a fabric store.

That first zinnia plant is protected by nylon screening material attached (sort of) to a "zinnia cage". The individual bloom is protected by a special fabric. There is a name for that kind of fabric, but I can't think of it at the moment. In any case, if you put your thinking cap on you might be able to think of some way to protect your hollyhock plants from whatever is eating them.

ZM

Thank you for taking the time to provide ideas on how to help the hollyhock seedlings. Slugs. Ew. I haven't looked at the seedlings during the night and will play detective with a flashlight. Coincidentally, I do have three zinnia elegans rasberry sorbet plants shipping my way. I'll look around for the fabric. Thank you for the visuals.

Welcome @Emilyzoneseven.

You might also want to look under your leaves (not sure how big your plants are) to see if you see any insects hanging out there. Otherwise, Zenman gave some good advice to find some way to protect the little seedings until they are stronger and can survive a little more on their own.

Karen

Hi @mom2goldens, thank you for the advice. Now, about 2 seedlings have made it. I'll take a look under the leaves. Thank you!

@mom2goldens and @zenman

I have tons of slugs. I bought Sluggo and hope this will help. I recently put down grass sod and water every day. I believe the regular watering of the grass attracts the slugs. Would it be okay for me to put Sluggo on the new grass sod? Would Sluggo hurt the grass?

No, Sluggo is fine.

Karen

Slugs are so frustrating and so destructive.